Sign



May 15, 1923.

F. E. BROWN SIGN Eiled June 16, 1922 A TTORNEYS WITNESSES FRANK EARNEST BROWN, 01 SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

SIGN.

Application filed June 16, 1922. Serial No. 568,888.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. FRANK E. BROWN, a citizen of, the United States, and resident of Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to illuminated signs especially adapted for use as an advertising medium.

Briefly stated, an important object of this invention is to provide an illuminated sign having simple means whereby letters or other characters may be detachably applied to a more or less translucent body and effectively illuminated so that the characters may be readil seen.

A furt er object is to provide an illuminated sign having a highly attractive background so as to attract attention to the matter applied to the sign.

A further object is to provide an illumi-- nated sign which is of highly simplified construction, neat in appearance and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

0 Figure 1 1s a perspective of the improved s1 11.

igure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the same,

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view through a character supporting member,

Figure 4 is a perspective of one of the characters, the view illustrating the means to attach the same.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates a casing, which as' illustrated-in Figure 1 consists of a transversely curved piece of metal defining side walls and a transversely curved back. The transversely curved back and the side walls are connected to top and bottom walls 6 and 7 respectively. In carrying out the invention, the forward side of the casing is provided with a guide member 10 having its top open to slidably receive a character supporting body 12.

The character supporting body 12 consists of a frame-work 13 of rectangular or other formation and inner and outer pieces of wire mesh 14 and 16 respectively are connected to opposite sides of the frame in spaced relation to each other. Figure 3 illustrates that the inner piece of screening 14 has the openings therein provided with a filling 18 which renders the inner screen more or less translucent. The filling mav be in the nature of a fiax seed gelatin over which a coat of 'clear exterior varnish is applied. The filler 18 completely fills the openings in the inner piece of screening 14 and the intersections of the several wires in the inner screen is out of line with the intersection in the outer screen so that the desired effect is produced. The outer screen 16 may be provided with a coating of varnish and it will be observed that the characters 20 are provided with attaching hooks 22 by means of which they may be detachably ap lied to the outer screen.

he characters may be illuminated-by means of an electric light bulb 24 connected to a socket 26 carried by the rear wall of the casing. An electric light wire 28 may be connected to the socket 26 and forms a means for conducting the electric current to the bulb. The casin 5 may be painted on its inner side or i may be of reflecting material and also the bulb 24 may be colored. Figure 2 illustrates that the lower portion of the casing may be painted as indicated at 30.

The light produced by the colored bulb 24 arranged in advance of the colored background 1s very artistically blended upon being transmitted to the coating 18 and the light thus produced effectively illuminates characters applied to the supporting body. The filling 18 has the effect of blending the various colors so as to produce a very pleasing light.

The casing may be of any desired formation although the transversely curved back as illustrated in Figure 1 is found very desirable for good results.

In case a long sign is required and more than one light is necessary a partition or dividing board made of thin sheet metal may be employed.

It will be observed that the forward side of the casing is provided with a frame 34, the inner side of which is beveled and the light thus shining on the beveled side or edge of the same is reflected to some extent onto the outer surfaces of the several characters for illuminating the same. This eliminates the shadows and other objectionable features.

It will be observed that the supporting body which is generally designated by the numeral 14 may be withdrawn through the upper side of the guide member 10 when it IS desired to gain access to the electric light bulb or the interior of the casing.

As a reflecting background, it has been found that the use of a good soluble gum together with aluminum in the dried form produces very satisfactory results.

In carrying out the invention the attaching members 22 of the characters 20 are formed from a material capable of being readily bent flatly in contact with the backs of the characters so that a large number of the characters may be packed in a box for shipping purposes. Also the attaching members 22 when bent flatly in contact with the backs of the characters Will not scratch the other characters packed in the same box.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:-- V

1. An illuminated sign comprising a casing. a transversely curved back: and side walls connected to the back, a guide member applied to the forward side of said casin a supporting body slidable through said guide member and consisting of inner and outer spaced pieces of screen, characters detachably applied to the outer piece of screen, a transparent filling applied to walls connected to the back, a guide mem ber applied to the forward side of said casing, and having its forward side bevelled. a supporting body slidable through said guide member and consisting of inner and outer spaced pieces of screen, characters detachably applied to the outer piece of screen, a transparent filling applied to the inner piece of screen, and a source of light arranged within the casing, the casing being provided on its inner side with reflecting means and a coat of coloring.

FRANK EARNEST BBQ. 

